Grisly discovery: 11 more bodies found in Khuzdar mass grave

In all, 13 decomposed bodies have been recovered so far.

QUETTA:

Authorities found around a dozen more bodies on Monday in a mass grave discovered in Tutak, about 50 kilometres from Khuzdar city, on Saturday.

At least 11 bodies were brought to the District Headquarters Hospital, which were decomposed beyond recognition, like the two discovered on Saturday, said medics. A total of 13 bodies have been recovered so far.



Vultures and crows hovering over the area had attracted the attention of local shepherds to the desolate area who informed the administration about what they suspected to be a mass grave.

“There could be more bodies in the grave. We saw human remains,” reported an official on the condition of anonymity.

Waheed Shah, the deputy commissioner of Khuzdar, told The Express Tribune that the Balochistan Levies have resumed digging of the grave on Monday. “DNA tests will help us identify the bodies,” he added.

Separately, Provincial Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti denied news reports claiming that dozens of bodies were found in the mass grave. “An investigation is ongoing and the facts will be shared with public soon,” he added.

Relatives of the missing persons fear the bodies could be of their loved ones. “We fear these bodies are of the missing persons. The superior judiciary and rights activists should press the government to carry out a transparent investigation,” Nasrullah Baloch, the chairman of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, said on Saturday.



Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan expressed serious concerns over the grisly discovery and demanded an immediate and impartial inquiry.

“The federal and Balochistan governments should identity those responsible for these killings and bring them to justice,” the HRCP wrote to the Balochistan chief minister. “This is an inhuman act and the government should carry out its constitutional responsibility by arresting the culprits involved in this heinous crime,” the letter read.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2014.